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In Memoriam

Trudy Cox Freeman, 67, a lifelong resident of Sierra County, died in Las Cruces on September 1, 2015. She was born on June 9, 1945 to Jan and Maxine (Davenport) Cox. Trudy worked on the Cox Ranch in Winston all of her life and was the best cowboy Jay and Russell ever had. She battled Multiple Sclerosis the last 24 years of her life and then was diagnosed with lung cancer in the end. She wouldn’t smoke a cigarette or drink a beer for a million dollars. Trudy is survived by her husband of 46 years, Russell Freeman; daughter Kelly (husband, Corey) Waide; and grandson Ryan Russell Waide. Along with her good horses, Kelly and Ryan were the pride of her life. They traveled to rodeos all over the country. Trudy ran in the National Finals Rodeo the last year it was in Oklahoma City and the first year it was in Las Vegas. One year Trudy ran barrels in Lexington, Kentucky and then went straight to Spokane, Washington, winning money at both rodeos. Trudy had lots and lots of friends all over the country that always enjoyed her straight forward personality.

Edward “Ed” Lee Goodrum, 85, passed away on September 11, 2015.  Ed was born on February 23, 1930 to Herman and Velma (Bogart) Goodrum. He attended New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell. Ed fell in love and married his wife Sarah Jane (Shaw) on July 22, 1951. Ed and Janie lived on their ranch in Picacho where they raised their two sons and daughter. Ed was also the co-owner of Roswell Wool and Mohair in Roswell, NM for many years. Ed loved the agriculture industry and contributed in any way he could to the ranchers of New Mexico. Ed was a gifted story teller and treated strangers like true friends. After years on the ranch Ed retired to his dream home in the mountains. He also loved traveling with his wife Janie in their 5th wheel trailer. At each new stop he would be making new friends and doing the things he enjoyed most fishing, photography and story-telling. Ed is survived by his sister Pat Jones, Willow Park, Texas and three children, son, Eddie (wife, Vicky), Tahlequah, Oklahoma; son, Bill (wife, Dawn), Capitan; daughter, Jacqui (husband, Steve) Gonzales, Paradise Pines, California; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Ed literally never met a stranger and touched the hearts of countless people who knew and loved him. He will be sorely missed.

Don Jobes, 86, East Bernard, Texas, passed away on August 15, 2015 in Houston, Texas. He was born in Rocksprings, Texas to Don Temple Jobes, Sr. and Frances Marie Goodwin. As a young man he worked on ranches in West Texas where he developed his love for cattle and agriculture. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Sul Ross University in 1953 and received his master’s in Agricultural Education at Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1954. He did post-graduate work at Texas
A & M University. Don taught vocational agriculture for nine years before joining the Texas Education Agency in Austin where he supervised agriculture teachers across the state. In 1956, he was named the Executive Secretary for the state association of Future Farmers of America. Don also served as Livestock Superintendent for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo during this time. On January 1, 1967 Don joined the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo as Assistant General Manager where he served for 31 years. Don retired to his J7 Ranch near East Bernard, Texas in 1998 where he raised registered Red Brangus cattle. In 2014, he was honored by the International Red Brangus Breeders Association (IRBBA) with the Lifetime Achievement Award. He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Mary Helen Jobes; daughter, Carrie Jobes Hitchcock (husband, Bob); son, Casey Jobes (wife, Debra); daughter, Julie Ray Dunn; son, Robert Lee Dunn Jr. (wife, Rhonda); seven granddaughters, two grandsons, and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his two half sisters and several nieces and nephews.

Sara Lou Hopkins, 74, Las Cruces, went home to Heaven on March 28, 2015. Once again feeling her old self, she got off her horse, smiled and winked. She knew this wasn’t the old ranch at Dell City. She knew exactly where she was. This was home. Sara was born on April 10, 1940, she was raised on this ranch, and although she eventually settled into ranching east of Las Cruces, her heart never quite left the Wind Mountain bunch. Sara attended schools in Las Cruces, and graduated from NMSU, where she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha and the rodeo team. She then taught physical education for several years, before leaving that profession to return to raising kids and cows with Dale Hopkins, her husband and partner for 53 years. Together they had three children, Shelly Lynn Pringle (Ed), Danna Leigh Hopkins, and Leslie Dale Hopkins (Mark), and grandchildren. Sara is survived by a sister, Kathryn Crosby (Bob), husband, Dale; daughter Shelly; son, Les; grandkids, nieces/nephews, cousins and friends from every corner. Although a rancher and cowgirl to her core – Sara was an outstanding member of the NMSU rodeo team, known for her barrel racing and horsemanship – she was also an artist, whose paintings of the Organ Mountains and working cowboys won her many fans. But perhaps her greatest gift was her teaching. She taught those lucky enough to be around her about wielding a pencil, a brush, a pair of reins, a rope, pliers, baling wire, and duct tape. While instilling confidence, she taught kids to think fast, improvise, laugh, and to be kind. Take care of the land and the animals on it – and leave a gate like you found it. While these lessons will endure, the teacher will be missed. In her memory, the family suggests donations be made to the Sara & Danna Leigh Hopkins Permanent Memorial Fund at New Mexico Boys & Girls Ranch Foundation Inc., PO Box 9, Belen, NM 87002-0009.

Ed. Note: Email caren@aaalivestock.com. Memorial donations may be sent to the Cattlegrowers’ Foundation, a 501(c)3, tax deductable charitable foundation serving the rights of ranch families & educating citizens on governmental actions, policies & practices. Cattlegrowers Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 7517, Albuq., NM 87194. The Stockman runs memorials as a courtesy to its readers. If families & friends would like to see more detail, verbatim pieces must be emailed to us, & may be printed at 10¢ per word.